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Alcohol

Otherwise known as: Booze

Background:

Alcohol is produced by fermenting fruits, vegetables or grains. It is found in drinks like beer, lager, wine, alcopops, cider and spirits such as Whisky and Gin. Alcoholic drinks range in strength and are measured as a percentage (%) per volume. The higher the percentage, the stronger the effect.

The effects:

Over 90% of the adult population enjoy a drink. For most people, alcohol has a relaxing effect and helps them feel more sociable.

It can become a problem for some when they drink as a way of blotting out difficult or troubling issues in their lives.

In increasing quantities, speech can become slurred, co-ordination affected and emotions heightened.

The intensity of the effects depends on the strength of the alcoholic drink, plus the rate and amount consumed.

Other factors that influence the effects of alcohol include the weight of the drinker, their mood and surroundings and how recently they have eaten.

Hangovers make you feel ill for a period of time, usually hours but sometimes even for days.

The risks:

Alcohol is a depressant drug. If you are feeling down, it will make you feel worse.

A regular, long term drinking habit can lead to physical as well as psychological dependency.

Tolerance can develop, which means you need more to get the same effect.

Getting very drunk can lead to loss of consciousness. Users then have a risk of choking on their own vomit.

Drinking too much can lead to alcohol poisoning. This can kill.

The law:

It is illegal for under 18’s to consume or buy alcohol. The legal limit for driving in the UK is currently 80mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The number of drinks it takes to reach this level varies from person to person. Safety experts advise people not to drink at all if they are going to drive.